tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24329836438235035062024-03-14T10:29:24.416-04:00AncientFuture Marinertraversing the post modern cultural seaAncient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-22425194337679191052013-08-28T22:52:00.001-04:002013-09-29T22:51:59.129-04:00Feed My Sheep<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wpy7cExKUJnFMIeCoYV0xNl5wBzrs-rKcg7eGVGtsz9XDs_hTS4Ybl8dEDS_a8l4AblOleNqenpyu7pWlVRuqT5qBBDAkuG27a1xuuwDI8v0XiE9lVcKjndi7pOVjcK4pxvTJc9KU_U/s1600/feed-my-sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wpy7cExKUJnFMIeCoYV0xNl5wBzrs-rKcg7eGVGtsz9XDs_hTS4Ybl8dEDS_a8l4AblOleNqenpyu7pWlVRuqT5qBBDAkuG27a1xuuwDI8v0XiE9lVcKjndi7pOVjcK4pxvTJc9KU_U/s320/feed-my-sheep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">This past Sunday my wife at I were sitting at a restaurant
when a group of people were seated next to us. It quickly became apparent that
these people were new acquaintances out to share a meal and getting to know
each other. These people were “church people” and they loudly and proudly
proclaimed their place in the church pecking order. Of course their
conversation was coached with the utmost humble sounding words and phrases.
Once couple was relatively new to their church and when asked why they left
their previous church I heard an all too familiar excuse, “We just weren’t
being fed.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">No I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, they were just very loud
and sitting next to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">But I was amused at the couple’s excuse for leaving a church
because they were not being fed. You see this comment has been a favorite
excuse for many Christians. The reality is that Jesus charged the leaders of the
infant church to “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">What does Jesus mean feed? Today in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
century most believers think of it as a passive learning process. We think of
sitting through a sermon or attending a Bible study as being fed. What we
really are saying when we say<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">,<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I
haven't been fed much lately." Is really code for, "The Pastor's
sermons are not connecting with me. I’m just not getting anything out of his
messages. Therefore there must be something wrong with the Pastor, ‘cause it
certainly can’t be me!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">What we are really saying is that we need to be spoon fed
must like a baby. But Jesus picture of a good shepherd found in John 10 is one
who leads hos sheep to a pasture for feeding. He doesn’t chew the grass for his
sheep. They are expected to eat for themselves. His job is to lead them to
places where they can graze. Additionally his job is to protect the flock from
any and all harm. Finally the watchmen of John 10 were tasked with teaching the
sheep to recognize their shepherd’s voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You see even today in the Middle East sheep are led not
herded. They are trained to recognize the voice of their shepherd and to follow
their shepherd wherever he leads them. (See John 10:4) As pastors, teachers and
disciple makers aren't training our flocks to recognize the Good Shepherd’s voice
than our sheep will inevitably go hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Excuse me I think I hear my Shepherd calling<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Pastor Val<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-2543104706334038032013-08-21T12:12:00.001-04:002013-08-21T12:13:19.608-04:00Signs & Wonders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGhkoXWnlZc-4ceo7Eq9Py8xPLAldjvabEgCWb7FSZMCuKfnHoEkUR4GuMe_yi3XxeX_Db2Tpwn5SF5B77qsAqLsjLfDM-HlBB6rjp41X6w0MvQkgM00axkgBjfJnK9mkjD9nfLS4yLM/s1600/Signs+&+Wonders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGhkoXWnlZc-4ceo7Eq9Py8xPLAldjvabEgCWb7FSZMCuKfnHoEkUR4GuMe_yi3XxeX_Db2Tpwn5SF5B77qsAqLsjLfDM-HlBB6rjp41X6w0MvQkgM00axkgBjfJnK9mkjD9nfLS4yLM/s1600/Signs+&+Wonders.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Recently I’ve been wondering a lot about signs from God. One
of the Bible studies I’ve been teaching just finished the Gospel of John (the 4<sup>th</sup>
book of the New Testament of the Bible). In that book John chooses to use only
seven signs (think miracles) to help to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Son of God. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Near the end of the book after Christ’s resurrection from
the dead He appears to the disciples in a locked room. But Thomas one of the
disciples was absent. When told about the others seeing Jesus risen from the
dead Thomas states the he won’t believe unless he sees and examines the Risen
Christ himself. Jesus suddenly appears and tells Thomas to check him out. The
written account never indicates that Thomas does any physical checking but
simply falls at Jesus feet and worships Him.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jesus goes on to say that it’s one thing to see and believe
but it is another thing all together to believe without seeing, without a sign.
(see John 20:29)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Tom is not the only Biblical character who asks for a sign
Gideon asks for one, too. But he isn’t satisfied with one sign he figures that
God made a mistake so he asks for a second sign, just to make sure.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">This got me to wondering about how God must feel about our
asking for signs to confirm His leading. It seems that we never need a sign
from God when it is something we want to do. But if we don’t want to do
something we demand for a sign from heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I heard a Christian comedian who tells a story about getting
on an empty bus and telling God that if God wants him to witness then to send a
person to the back of the bus and he would testify to his faith in Christ. God
answered his prayer and soon a person entered the bus and moved to the back and
sat down across form the comedian. This person asked him “Do you know anything
about Jesus?” The comedian quickly prayed and asked for a second sign. “God is
you really want me to witness to this person, than change the bus driver into
an armadillo!” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I wonder how many of us can relate to that story. We know what
to do, because it is a clear command in the Scripture but we don’t want to obey
so we wait for a sign. When God gives us a sign we wave it off like a pitcher
on the mound and ask for a better sign from the catcher.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I wonder if God get frustrated at my waving off His signs.
After all… </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><sup>17 </sup> Anyone,
then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. <br />
<b>James 4:17 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I was just wondering,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Pastor Val</span></div>
Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-69045107795460725352013-03-11T14:34:00.000-04:002013-03-11T14:34:12.562-04:00Is the Antichrist alive today in the world?<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">This was a question recently posed to me. When I answered
“Yes!” you should have seen the eyes of the questioner.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">You know the next question – don’t you? “WHO is it?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">This has been a question that has plagued not only our
generation but also every generation since the first century. We have head all
kinds of answers to this question. During the first century the Emperor Nero
was thought to be the antichrist. Martin Luther believed that the Pope of his
day was the antichrist. Back in the 1940s there were people who thought it was
Hitler. During my lifetime here are some of the more popular names that have
been bandied about Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or Pope Benedict XVI.
Even leaders from America have been on the lists. I bet you can guess who some
of them are. They include a couple of our former presidents – Bill Clinton
& George Bush. Even our current president Barack Obama has not escaped this
title.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">What does the Bible have to say about this?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Well 1 John 2 teaches that there are many antichrists in the
world today not just one. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">The term Antichrist is never used in Scripture to identify a
particular person. Rather Paul uses a number of titles to describe this person.
Terms like “man of sin” and “son of perdition” the come from 2 Thessalonians
2:3 KJV. Other translations call him the “man of lawlessness” and the “son of
destruction.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">John in his book Revelation refers to two people (the false
prophet and the beast) who scholars have identified as the ultimate Antichrist.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">So what do I believe on the subject of the antichrist?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">There are a number of facts that come from my study. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">The only Biblical writer to us e this term is John in his
epistles (think letters) to individual churches. You can check them out - 1
John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">In the Greek the term “anti” carries two meanings “against”
and “instead of” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">This spirit of antichrist has been present in the world
since Satan declared war on God and helped bring about the fall of mankind (see
Genesis 3). This person opposes and attempts to substitute for God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">There have been and will be many antichrists who embody this
spirit and teach false doctrine. Anyone who denies Jesus Christ is the Son of
God and has come in the flesh is an antichrist, regardless of how good of a
speaker or teacher they might be!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">And finally there will be a single person who will head up
the ultimate rebellion against God and His Son in the last days and he could
certainly be called the antichrist since he will attempt to replace Christ in
the eyes and hearts of his followers.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Test the spirits and the teaching of those who come to you
with Biblical teaching. If they are not teaching the truth of Christ the
Apostle John calls them antichrists! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Teaching the truth </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Pastor Val</span></div>
Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-25464243905038457472012-12-17T18:22:00.002-05:002012-12-17T18:26:43.420-05:00Why God?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">This past weekend has been a difficult one for many people in our country, especially those of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Newtown</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:state></st1:place>. The senseless killing of innocents makes all of us ask “Why? Why do the innocent suffer? Why does it seem the evil is so powerful? Why would God allow this to happen?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">These and many more questions have been asked this weekend and some of these questions have been addressed to me. I wish I could tell you that I knew the answer. I wish that I could tell you that I knew why but the honest truth is that I don’t know why? No one does. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Here is what I do know. God loves the human race and because he loves us he wants us to love him. (I suggest you read the short letter entitled 1 John near the end of the New Testament to learn about his love for us) That means that one of the most precious gifts he gives us is freedom, freedom to choose right from wrong. God wants us to choose to love him. But along with that choice is the opposite choice – the freedom to choose evil. You see if God made us without a choice we would be doomed to live our lives under subjugation – slaves or even worse – robots. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">But God wanted us to choose to love him in response to the love he shows to us. 1 John 4:19</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup><span style="color: black;">19 </span></sup> We love because he first loved us. <br /><b>1 John 4:19 (NIV)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">So why didn’t God intervene this time when he does other times? Does he like some people better then others? Does he play favorites? No the Bible says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup><span style="color: black;">45 </span></sup> that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. <br /><b>Matthew 5:45 (NIV)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does God choose to allow things to happen?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Well if God is all knowing (omniscient) and I believe he is. And he is all-powerful (omni powerful) and I believe he is. And he is everywhere (omnipresent) and I believe he is. And he is eternally now and the creator of time, space, and the universe and he is. Than I have to believe that after seeing and knowing every possible outcome with every possible permutation he has chosen the best possible course for the greatest possible outcome.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Where is the comfort in that for those of who are hurting and suffering?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Everyone either has or will suffer. It is the way of all mankind. I believe that the comfort comes in the fact that God tells us that he will never allow us to endure suffering without him being there to help us through the suffering. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">One of the best-loved Psalms is Psalm 23 – often known, as the Lord is my Shepherd Psalm. In this passage God tell us that like a shepherd he will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We don’t have to walk it along. He is there beside us comforting, caring for us and binding up our wounds.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup><span style="color: black;">1 </span></sup><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"> The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. </span><br /><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><sup><span style="color: black;">2 </span></sup> He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, </span><br /><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><sup><span style="color: black;">3 </span></sup> he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. </span><br /><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><sup><span style="color: black;">4 </span></sup> Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. </span><span class="smblankline"> </span><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"> </span><br /><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><sup><span style="color: black;">5 </span></sup> You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. </span><br /><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><sup><span style="color: black;">6 </span></sup> Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. </span><br /><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><b>Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV) </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">We can also take comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Also he has experienced all of the same sorrows that we are or have experienced and as such he understands what we are going through and can not only empathize with us but also comfort us (Hebrews 4:15)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup><span style="color: black;">15 </span></sup> For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. <br /><b>Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">He will not allow us to go through our suffering alone but will walk with us through the suffering. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">While this still doesn’t answer the personal question of why knowing that God cares enough for us that he is willing to be with us in our time of need provides me great comfort and I hope it will do the same for you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">I’m praying for all those who have been affected by the events of this past Friday and I hope you will join me in my prayers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #e06666;">Pastor Val</span></div>
<span style="color: #e06666;"></span>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-40354082487014236452012-11-07T14:01:00.001-05:002012-11-07T14:01:23.603-05:00Now What?!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO6vVFNVimqCCP-xXy4j2c5rtl-7qO9KwE9q3ww8U7_fl_plUp5QgO_GU91Q3G0RCfc-UGbIiD20-qS7pVxEUCK-9bNYsHo2ggAvY4h9gfkpVATbwWFJJYv_jxXhYmZJJQku91rD3xnc/s1600/now-what-sized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO6vVFNVimqCCP-xXy4j2c5rtl-7qO9KwE9q3ww8U7_fl_plUp5QgO_GU91Q3G0RCfc-UGbIiD20-qS7pVxEUCK-9bNYsHo2ggAvY4h9gfkpVATbwWFJJYv_jxXhYmZJJQku91rD3xnc/s320/now-what-sized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Well it’s the day after the general election in USA and about
50% of our country is ecstatic and the other half is pretty down in the dumps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">So what really happened? About 2 billion dollars were spent
and at the end of the election the over all make up of the government remained
the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">For my conservative friends – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Is this the end of America as we know it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Has the Tribulation begun?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Did God go out for a coffee break and come back to a mess
that you and I made? Is He in heaven right now wringing His hands trying to
figure out how to fix the problem we caused?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">For my liberal friends – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Has paradise come to earth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Is everything being prepared for the establishment of God’s
Kingdom here on earth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Is God smiling at the outcome of last night’s election and
saying all is now right in the world?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">The answer to all of these questions and countless others is
… NO!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">So what is happening?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Well simply put God’s plan for this world continues just as
He has ordained<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Consider the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">1. God is sovereign over all nations, peoples and movements</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>11 </sup> Jesus
answered, <span class="jesuswords">"You would have no power over me if it
were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you
is guilty of a greater sin."</span> <span class="smblankline"> </span>
<br />
<b>John 19:11 (NIV)</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">2. God controls every government – </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>1</sup> The
king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; <span class="smblankline"> </span> <span class="para1-poetrynarrow">he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. </span><span class="smblankline"> </span><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"> </span><br />
<span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><b>Proverbs 21:1 (NIV) <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">3. Everything is proceeding according to God’s plans –</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>44 </sup> "In
the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will
never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all
those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. <br />
<b>Daniel 2:44 (NIV)</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="para1-poetrynarrow" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">4. Government is designed by
God for our benefit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>1 </sup> Everyone
must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority
except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been
established by God. <br />
<b>Romans 13:1 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="para1-poetrynarrow" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">5. Regardless of the
government that God give us we are commanded to be obey it’s laws<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>2 </sup> Consequently,
he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. <br />
<sup>3 </sup> For rulers hold no terror
for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from
fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. <br />
<sup>4 </sup> For he is God's servant to
do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the
wrongdoer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>5 </sup> Therefore,
it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible
punishment but also because of conscience. <span class="smblankline">
</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Romans 13:2-5 (NIV) </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br />
6. <span class="para1-poetrynarrow">God expects us to pay our taxes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>6 </sup> This is
also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their
full time to governing. <br />
<b>Romans 13:1-6 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">What should we being as the result of this or any election?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Pray! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Pray for our leaders. Pray for our country. Pray for the
continued advancement of the Kingdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Don’t forget that we are Kingdom citizens first and citizens
our country second.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Finally, Pray that God’s will - would be done here on earth
as it is in Heaven</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Amen</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Pastor Val</span></div>
Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-19829920714310023972012-10-16T14:50:00.001-04:002012-10-16T14:51:04.689-04:00Christian Gnosticism<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Recently I was in India speaking at a training school for pastors. One of the major issues that they were dealing with was publications being disseminated by fundamental Hindus claiming that Jesus was not a peacemaker, that the Bible was an unholy book because spoke of sinful men who had done evil things, and the number one issue that the pamphlet addressed was that Jesus was married and had had children. </span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Now the issue of Jesus coming to divide families has more to do with either Christ's return or the problems faced when one member of a family chooses to follow Jesus but the rest are non-followers. And the issue of sinful men and their story being told has more to do with the fact that the Bible refuses to cover up mankind's sinful nature. In both of these types of questions the answers come directly from Scripture and learning to apply the principles found in the Bibles.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">But the issue of Jesus purported marriage and subsequent children is an issue that must be addressed from a historical perspective of the early church and the religions of the early centuries of the common era. Yes there are Biblical passages that can be used to refute this information but it must be combined with an understanding of the historical issues of the day. </span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">My last session with these future pastors and their professors was taken up with addressing the issue of Gnosticism and it's impact on Christianity. Below is a summery of the talk I gave earlier this month in India.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The information is a bit long but I believe worth the read.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Christian Gnosticism</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Dr Vallen Prest</span></b></div>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">There has been a lot
of publicity about a slip of paper from the 4th century written in Coptic
Egyptian that a professor at Harvard thinks says that Jesus had a wife. Should
this change our Christian faith? Is this a smoking gun that will change the way
our faith is viewed? does it matter if Christ had a wife or even a child?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">To place this scrap
of paper into its proper perspective we must understand the people who wrote
it.To do this we must first overlook the fact that this scrap of paper has no provenance.
This means that we have no clear understanding where this piece of paper was
found what else was found with it and how that might change our perception of
this paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">What we do now is
that this fragment of writing is written in Coptic Egyptian. That there are
gapes or spaces that tell us there are missing words. These missing words could
change the meaning of what is bring assumed by this professor and the media. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">There is no way that
we can recover the missing words. The tests that have been performed on this
document tells us that the paper is 4th century and the ink also appears to be
from the same time period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">One other small
issue is that Dr. King (the Harvard professor who has the Coptic fragment)
chose the word “wife” which would be better translated “companion.” This
reading could provide a different understanding of the fragment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Is this the first
fragment that has been found that indicates an alternative story of Jesus? No.
In fact there are all sorts of documents that claim to tell us stories about
Jesus. Many of these documents were
also written during the same time period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">What do we know
about these other documents? They compromise a collection of documents from a
group of people who were considered heretical Christians. They were known as
Gnostic Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">So what is
Gnosticism?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">To understand Gnosticism we must first understand its roots.
The roots of Gnosticism can be traced back as early as the Persian Empire and
its religion of dualism. This religion taught that there were two equal
deities, one totally good and the other totally evil. These two entities worked
as kind of a yin and yang. For the world to properly exist there must be
summitry or balance between the two opposing forces.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">One of the philosophical ideas that came out of dualism was
Gnosticism, which believed that anything that was of or from the spiritual
realm was good and anything from the physical realm was evil. This played out
with the belief that the flesh or the body was evil and the spirit was good. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">This ancient heresy has two major streams that flow out of
this belief of the good of the spirit and the evil of the physical. Because of
the evil of the body one stream practiced licentiousness. Since the body is
unimportant, evil and won’t last therefore everything goes!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The other stream produced a form of legalism within the
church. The spirit was good but anything we did in the body was evil and
therefore had to be controlled and at times beaten into submission. One can see
the rise of monasticism directly from this teaching. We separate ourselves from
the world and all of its corruption. Some of the Anabaptist groups of the
reformation era (that still exist today) came to similar conclusions. The
Puritans of England also often forbade many pleasures of the body. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">In its most extreme form the followers of these teachings
refrained from any form of sexual pleasures and the only way that these sects
could grow was through converts. Here in America a religious group known as the
Shakers (because of their intense shaking worship) that had existed since the
founding of America ceased to exist when their last surviving member died in
the early nineteen hundreds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Gnosticism can be found in many different religions today.
Its roots crept into the church as early as the end of the first century and
beginning of the second century. By the fourth century it had come to full
bloom and was a heresy that the ancient church addressed and opposed. Even
today we still see the roots of dualism can be seen in Christianity. For
example, the sacred is good but the secular is bad or the notion that
Christianity is a religion of “no” to any pleasures. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">God created man and in Genesis chapter One</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><sup>26 </sup> Then
God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them
rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock,
over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the
ground." <span class="smblankline"> </span> <br />
<span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><sup>27 </sup> So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them. </span><span class="smblankline"> </span><span class="para1-poetrynarrow"> </span><br />
<span class="para1-poetrynarrow"><b>Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV) </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">And in Chapter Two we find out that God not only formed man
from the dust of the ground (physical) but God also breathed into Adam the
breath of life (certainly spiritual since God is a spirit John 4:24)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><sup>7 </sup> the LORD
God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life, and the man became a living being. <span class="smblankline">
</span> <br />
<b>Genesis 2:7 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> at the end of day 6
He claimed that everything He had created (all of the physical creation) was
very good. God created man in his own image and claimed his created as “good.”
It is only after the fall of man that evil entered into the heart of man. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><sup>31 </sup> God saw
all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there
was morning--the sixth day. <br />
<b>Genesis 1:31 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">At the core of Gnostic teaching is knowledge, especially
secret knowledge. This special knowledge could only be passed on to those who
were worthy of ascending to the place of knowledge. This knowledge would allow
a person to eventually ascend past the physical world into the spiritual world
and become godlike. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">If we know or have secret knowledge about something or
someone we have power over them. This information allows us to control them.
Ancient religions believed if we knew the true name of something (or someone)
it allowed us to control that item or person.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The more knowledge the less in control we really are. The
more knowledge we have the more we are controlled by pride (1 Corinthians 13
and 1 John 2:15-16). Our problem as believers is not that we need more
information. No our problem is not a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of
application of the knowledge that we already know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">While there were many different Gnostic beliefs the main
ones consisted of the fact that Christ was less than God but higher than any
other spiritual being. The lowest of the spiritual beings was Jehovah who
created the physical world and was therefore the creator of evil.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Christ was a spirit who descended on the man Jesus at his
baptism and when Jesus was arrested the spirit of Christ left him. Therefore
while Jesus physical body died Christ did not die. He tricked Satan into
killing Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Another belief is that Jesus didn’t die on the cross and was
revived after he was taken down. The licentious stream believed after the cross
that Jesus married and had children. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The other group (the legalists) believed that Christ would
never marry much less have children because the flesh was evil. This group
spiritualized the concept of the bride and the acts of procreation to mean the
spiritual bride and converts were known as children. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I have read many of the Gnostic writings and can attest to
the fact that their quality of writing and concepts are not even close to those
found in the New Testament canon. Most of these writings are not complete and
are almost child-like in their construction and content. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The vast majority of these works are in Coptic and ancient
Egyptian language and were found in Egypt. The only copies of these works were
written in the end of the third century and fourth century. No early copies of
these works exist in earlier centuries. Of additional interest to me is that
this fragment has no provenance and casts serious doubt over its authenticity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">A former professor of mine made the following comments
regarding Gnosticism and the recent fragment that has made the news.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd;"><em>Sensationalism
catches the interest the news media and sometimes Christians get worried about
such sensational news reports. Please do not worry about such accounts. Such
ideas are not new, and calling Mary Jesus' wife is Dr. King's translation for
the Coptic idea of companion. The Gnostics had ideas that intimacy with the
divine was best expressed in sexual terms so that in the Coptic Gnostic Gospel
of Philip the highest sacrament was called the Bridal Chamber. Gnostics
believed that intimacy with God was to be understood sexually.</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><i><br />
<br />
<em>These late 3rd - 4th century and following documents were hardly accepted
by the Church as authentic representative expressions of portraits of Jesus.</em></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd;"><em>Dr.
Gerald Borchert, IWS Trustee and Professor Emeritus</em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">John wrote the Gospel of John to proclaim that Christ had
come in the flesh and was not simply a spiritual being. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><sup>1 </sup> In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <br />
<sup>2 </sup> He was with God in the
beginning. <span class="smblankline"> </span> <br />
<sup>3 </sup> Through him all things were
made; without him nothing was made that has been made. <br />
<sup>4 </sup> In him was life, and that
life was the light of men. <br />
<sup>5 </sup> The light shines in the
darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. <span class="smblankline">
</span> <br />
<b>John 1:1-5 (NIV) <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br />
<sup>14 </sup> The Word became flesh and
made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and
Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. <span class="smblankline"> </span> <br />
<b>John 1:14 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The First Epistle of John was written to refute that Christ
Jesus had not come in the flesh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><sup>1 </sup> Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. <br />
<sup>2 </sup> This is how you can
recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is from God, <br />
<sup>3 </sup> but every spirit that does
not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,
which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. <span class="smblankline"> </span> <br />
<b>1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Paul also addressed this in his letter to the Galatians. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><sup>6 </sup> I am
astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the
grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- <br />
<sup>7 </sup> which is really no gospel
at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to
pervert the gospel of Christ. <br />
<sup>8 </sup> But even if we or an angel
from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let
him be eternally condemned! <br />
<sup>9 </sup> As we have already said, so
now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you
accepted, let him be eternally condemned! <span class="smblankline"> </span>
<br />
<b>Galatians 1:6-9 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">While this is at best a quick overview of the problem of
Gnosticism I hope that it will help address the needs of the faith community
where you are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">A final note of caution, please remember that apologetics is
a wonderful tool for helping to build up the wavering faith of believers it is
not an evangelistic tool. No one has ever been argued into heaven. Only the
Spirit drawing people to God the Father through the sharing of the Gospel will
bring people into the Kingdom of God.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">All for the Kingdom</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Pastor Val</span></div>
Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-46440735473432700412012-09-06T16:06:00.000-04:002012-09-06T16:13:53.347-04:00Failure To Obey the Law<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Pentagon fails to comply with law to help overseas soldiers
vote, watchdog says</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.washingtonguardian.com/ballot-buck-passing"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">http://www.washingtonguardian.com/ballot-buck-passing</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">This article was a real eye opener for me and should be for
you regardless of your political leanings. “Why?” you ask. Because of the last
paragraph of the article (seen below) and the last sentence, which says that,
the pentagon is in agreement with the inspector general’s recommendation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><i>The inspector general recommended the Pentagon create better
survey capabilities to identify the voting needs of soldiers, sailors, Marines
and Air Force personnel after the 2012 election and to </i><b><i>work with Congress to
change the parts of the law that it isn’t complying with. (my emphasis added)</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Doesn’t bother you too much?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="background-color: black;">Well how do you feel about people who refuse to obey the law
and when asked about it they say, “let’s just change the law?”</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="background-color: black;">How about complying with the law of the land the one that
your commander-in-chief signed into law? And then work to change the law if
necessary. After all that is what w followers of Christ are called to do (see
Romans 13 & 1 Peter 2)</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Lets put it into perspective of the Kingdom. Suppose your
King issued a royal decree that says that obedience is better than sacrifice
and rebellion is equal to witchcraft (an act punishable by death in the Old
Testament) 1 Samuel 15:22 or that the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord
your God and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:38-40.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">But instead you say, “We will work with our Lord the King to
change the laws that we are failing to comply with at this time.” How do you
think He would react? What do you think
He would do with servants who disobeyed Him?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The people of this republic have sunk so low that no one is
up in arms over this failure to obey. What happened to honor, respect and duty
by the upper echelons of the military? And how can they expect the rank and
file to obey when they themselves don’t?</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">For followers of Jesus the only time we are allowed to disobey the government is when it conflicts with God's Law. (see Acts 5:29) Notice how the Apostles reacted those in authority. They were willing to suffer persecution if necessary and not complain about how unfair and unjust the law was. But what about disobeying God's law?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">What a shame that believers are just as cavalier with their
obedience to God’s law! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">God forgive me of my lack of obedience, honor and duty to my
King,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Pastor Val</span></span>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-58490338226627346442012-07-02T14:39:00.000-04:002012-07-02T14:43:12.451-04:00Hello ... God Calling!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3JR2u0ETHqrLs10bupocOJt3NMmeqHwmn9YwrMX4iotcpk5oVL4nasRtZU3D-awNCr8fx93orlvqcU_BsF-ifMRCGYO4Z2srr5znMKzDNcjxZegubFRfx86Ny1CX8RklsMei0obmvw0/s1600/man-on-a-cellphone-while-walking-through-beach-grass-in-The-Hamptons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3JR2u0ETHqrLs10bupocOJt3NMmeqHwmn9YwrMX4iotcpk5oVL4nasRtZU3D-awNCr8fx93orlvqcU_BsF-ifMRCGYO4Z2srr5znMKzDNcjxZegubFRfx86Ny1CX8RklsMei0obmvw0/s200/man-on-a-cellphone-while-walking-through-beach-grass-in-The-Hamptons.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Has God ever interrupted you while you spending time with
him? You know you are in the moment. You are there in God’s presence and you
are in awe of His wonder, splendor and majesty and something or someone breaks
your concentration?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Perhaps you are in a worship service (public or private),
reading your Bible, singing, or praying and God shows up unexpectedly! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Even worse suppose you are doing something inappropriate (<u>you
can fill in the blank here</u>) and God breaks in on your moment…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">How do you react? How do you respond? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Are you embarrassed? Annoyed? Surprised? Thrilled? Awed?
Scared? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">How do you act or respond? What do you do? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I’m not saying we will hear a clear audible voice (although
perhaps we will) but somehow you recognize that God is present in that moment
and He has something to impart to you. (And no, I’m not saying that God has
visited you or me with a book to be added to His cannon of Scripture. Just that
he is impressing something on our mind or convicting you of something or just
wanting to spend time with one of His children) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Or even worse…What if God has never spoken to you?!? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Perhaps you are too busy to notice He is visiting you or
maybe you have never invited Him to be a part of your life. If that’s the case
drop me a line and I’ll help you get in contact with Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Well back to my story – I was out walking a couple of weeks
ago and I was enjoying listening to the Bible on my iPhone. See I’m preparing a
new series on 1, 2, and 3 John for a men’s Bible study and I like to saturate
myself with the passages we will be studying before spending time digging
deeper. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I had listened through all of the Epistles of John and had
kept the program running as I walked. I had blown through Jude and was in that
amazing and confusing book of the Revelation. I was in chapter 5 where all of
Heaven was singing the praises of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the
world (Jesus Christ) when the recording stopped and my iPhone rang. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">My first response was “Who was bothering me?” my next was
some telemarketer had gotten a hold of my cell phone and was soliciting me to
buy something. I was pretty convinced of that when I looked at the caller ID
and saw that the number was from out of state and not one that I knew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I wish that I could say that I answered politely, but I’m
really not sure that I did. The first words that I heard was “Dr Prest this is
so-and-so calling from the search committee of XYZ church. Can we talk with
you?” I have to believe that my voice
tambour changed and I was trying to control my breath while the walking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I don’t know what will come of my contact with this church
and I don’t know what God’s will is concerning this place and any other church,
yet. But I will tell you that at the end of the phone call my step was a little
lighter and tears were streaming down my face as I thought of how God had
stopped by to give me lift and encourage me in my journey. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I don’t know why I’m surprised when God shows up or shows
Himself mighty to save. You would think that all followers of Christ would be
looking for Him and expecting Him to make His presence known in power and
might. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">But so often I get busy (sometimes even in worship) that I
forget just how close He is. How interested in us He is and how intimately
involved in our lives He wants to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Times of refreshing (Acts 3:19) often come unexpectedly but
always just when we need them. Perhaps
we just need to be more aware of Him and more expectant of hearing His voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Got to run, I think I hear my phone…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Pastor Val</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-63045710060422844062012-06-11T15:14:00.000-04:002012-06-11T15:14:56.951-04:00The Demise of Christianity<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPiMNzrRpWQjOw6bhyphenhypheniG79tt1lBoUr_JK2YVS7V4nsx_pok1E27pbsVrO2bQX8SrPcIVL0Lwo63rZ8S_7cSIJq9cAxAczBeuPqkYYW-kU_osWTMtU411IB2PyU5YW58vk3dLAoYQZBRM/s1600/god+laughs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPiMNzrRpWQjOw6bhyphenhypheniG79tt1lBoUr_JK2YVS7V4nsx_pok1E27pbsVrO2bQX8SrPcIVL0Lwo63rZ8S_7cSIJq9cAxAczBeuPqkYYW-kU_osWTMtU411IB2PyU5YW58vk3dLAoYQZBRM/s320/god+laughs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I used to get worried about the possibility of someone
finding a forgotten book of the Bible that would turn the entire New Testament
on it’s ear. But while I was in seminary I had to read a number of these so
called forgotten books of the Bible and was shocked at how poorly they were
written and often how often they ripped off the canonical books that were
actually included in the New Testament. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Most of these lost gospels (of Mary, Judas, Thomas, Peter,
Philip and a host of others) were so inferior in their scope and subject matter
and were so childish that I lost interest in them and their content. Further
review proved that most of them were 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup>, or even 4<sup>th</sup>
Century Gnostic writings. Dan Brown brought back a lot of speculation and
interest in these “lost books” when he penned the <i>Da Vinci Code</i>. In fact
his book and subsequent movie created a small cottage industry of writer who
either debunked his work as simply a fanciful novel or trumpeted the of these
pseudepigrapha writings as a fuller more meaningful understanding of Christ’s
teaching. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">All of this interest and debate died down years ago – until
I recently read with a little interest article posted on the Internet. <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/iran-discovery-will-collapse-christianity/">http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/iran-discovery-will-collapse-christianity/</a>
Some who have read this article predict the downfall and destruction of
Christianity because of a prophecy in the <i>Gospel of Barnabas</i>. This codex
“predicts the coming of Mohammad. Turkish authorities have stated that the copy
of the book that they have was written in either the 5th or 6<sup>th</sup>
Centuries predating the prophet by 100 years before or shortly after his birth
in 570 CE. No outside group has been allowed authenticate this work but there
is another copy of the <i>Gospel of Barnabas</i> that has been dated as having
been written in the 16<sup>th</sup> Century. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The religious/political leadership of Iran predicts that
when the world reads the “truth” in this book that Christianity will wither
away and die while the final word from God, the Koran, will thrive and Islam
will flourish and take over the whole world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Jesus addresses this very issue in the Gospels</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><sup>18
</sup>I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the
smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear
from the Law until everything is accomplished. <br />
<b>Matthew 5:18 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><sup>17
</sup>It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least
stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. <br />
<b>Luke 16:17 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><sup>8
</sup>They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and
uprightness. <br />
<b>Psalm 111:8 (NIV) </b><br />
<br />
<sup>8 </sup>The grass withers and the flowers
fall, but the word of our God stands forever." <br />
<b>Isaiah 40:8 (NIV) </b><br />
<br />
<sup>35 </sup>Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will never pass away. <br />
<b>Matthew 24:35 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">So God’s Word will never fade or pass away, even if some
book says otherwise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">“What about the church?” you might ask. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Again Jesus speaks to this </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><sup>18
</sup>And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, <em>Petros</em>—a large
piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, <em>petra</em>—a huge rock like
Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the
infernal region) {or the boasting of men} shall not overpower it [or be strong
to its detriment or hold out against it] {or make it disappear}. <br />
<b>Matthew 16:18 (AMP) <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Should we worry about man’s
attempt to undermine our faith and bring about the destruction of the church?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Well, I’m going to choose to
follow God’s response to man’s attempt to waylay God’s plans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><sup>1
</sup>Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? <br />
<sup>2 </sup>The kings of the earth take their
stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed
One. <br />
<sup>3 </sup>"Let us break their
chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." <br />
<sup>4 </sup>The One enthroned in heaven
laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. <br />
<sup>5 </sup>Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, <br />
<sup>6 </sup>"I have installed my King on
Zion, my holy hill." <br />
<sup>7 </sup>I will proclaim the decree of the
LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. <br />
<sup>8 </sup>Ask of me, and I will make the
nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. <br />
<sup>9 </sup>You will rule them with an iron
scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." <br />
<sup>10 </sup>Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth. <br />
<sup>11 </sup>Serve the LORD with fear and
rejoice with trembling. <br />
<sup>12 </sup>Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him. <br />
<b>Psalm 2:1-12 (NIV) </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Enjoying a last laugh with
Father!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Pastor Val</span></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-12554752883762660482012-04-30T22:27:00.000-04:002012-04-30T22:27:13.786-04:00The First Cut is the Deepest<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;">The ancient covenant that God gave to Abraham and his
progeny carried with it a sign that all male offspring wore with pride. Some
covenants of antiquity required ritualistic cutting and so it was with the
covenant the nation of <st2:country-region w:st="on"><st2:place w:st="on">Israel</st2:place></st2:country-region>
had with their God. Circumcision was seen as a physical sign of a spiritual
covenant between God and the nation of <st2:country-region w:st="on"><st2:place w:st="on">Israel</st2:place></st2:country-region>. This event was pregnant in
meaning, an outward sign signifying God’s promise to His people as well as
their commitment to His commands.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Apparently, after the Israelites left <st2:place w:st="on"><st2:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st2:country-region></st2:place> and wandered in the
wilderness for 40 years the nation had become lax with their religious duties. They
had neglected circumcision for decades. This procedure was so significant that
prior to the campaign to conquer the <st2:place w:st="on"><st2:placename w:st="on">Promise</st2:placename>
<st2:placetype w:st="on">Land</st2:placetype></st2:place> the Lord commanded
Joshua (the new leader of the Israelite nation) to circumcise all of the male
Israelites (see <st1:bible reference="Bible.Jos5.2-3" w:st="on">Joshua 5:2-3</st1:bible>).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">When Jesus established the New
Covenant in His blood He established a new sign for all believers (both male
and female). Paul refers to it as the circumcision of our hearts (see Romans
2:28-29). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">This spiritual circumcision is the act of God cutting away
everything in our lives that doesn’t bring Him glory. You see God has to work <b>in</b> us before He can work <b>through</b> us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">To be honest, as a male, I’m not sure which circumcision is
worse, which hurts more. I have a feeling that spiritual circumcision is much
more painful if for no other reason that I seem to have lots of extra tissue
that needs to be removed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">When I was a young child I had a problem with scaring. My body produced extra scare tissue. The
doctor called it “proud flesh.” I guess my spiritual problem is similar, an
excessive amount of “proud flesh” that needs to be excised!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">If we want to be used of God we need to be properly marked
as His and we need to allow Him to remove everything and anything in our lives
that detracts from His glory!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Coming to you from the spiritual operating room</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Pastor Val</span></div>
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<br /></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-50394417986952099352012-03-23T14:13:00.000-04:002012-03-23T14:13:55.873-04:00After-Birth Abortions<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvlaS4Uc-ekFZkvedX529p2Cav3e9wsga2SS2IvJPE6ruP4C2IBRfcvcwr248lfiCAdIZhXiQLmYokspxzkFdZj4C0kt8eXkNxKKEUqvMAoDqX_pKg1G2jrWRB18DEFAARf2wRZSHYqs/s1600/baby_picture_photo_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvlaS4Uc-ekFZkvedX529p2Cav3e9wsga2SS2IvJPE6ruP4C2IBRfcvcwr248lfiCAdIZhXiQLmYokspxzkFdZj4C0kt8eXkNxKKEUqvMAoDqX_pKg1G2jrWRB18DEFAARf2wRZSHYqs/s200/baby_picture_photo_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;">I recently read a disturbing article in the UK Telegraph.
You can find the link below.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9113394/Killing-babies-no-different-from-abortion-experts-say.html"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9113394/Killing-babies-no-different-from-abortion-experts-say.html</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">This
article is from a couple of medical ethicists associated with Oxford
University. Their premise is that since newborn babies are “morally irrelevant”
that ending their lives is no different than aborting these babies while they
are in utero. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">They argued: “The moral status of an infant is equivalent to
that of a fetus in the sense that both lack those properties that justify the
attribution of a right to life to an individual.” Rather than being “actual
persons”, newborns were “potential persons”. They explained: “Both a fetus and
a newborn certainly are human beings and potential persons, but neither is a
‘person’ in the sense of ‘subject of a moral right to life’.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> “We take ‘person’ to
mean an individual who is capable of attributing to her own existence some (at
least) basic value such that being deprived of this existence represents a loss
to her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Now
I understand the need to debate beliefs to determine what society believes but
this seems to be seems to be similar to arguments used by the discredited
German ethicists during the 1930s and 40s. Revisiting flawed and failed
policies of the past seems to be a recipe for repeated failure in the present or
the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Unfortunately,
some well meaning people have threatened to kill the authors of the article.
While this might sound ironically appealing to some, it lowers our moral
position down to a similar level that they are on. We who claim to love life are
willing to take a life because someone disagrees with our belief system. People
who are only discussing an opinion, people who have not acted out their
suggestion are threatened with death. Hummm sound suspiciously like conquerors
who demand of the defeated “convert or die.” Very high moral ground to stand
on, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">So
as a follower of Jesus what should our reaction to this discussion be? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">First,
Jesus is interested in children as seen in Matthew 19:14 where He says “Let the
little children come to me.” The fact that he encourages the littlest ones to
join him says that they matter to Him and to God the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Second,
God through the Psalmist tells us that God is intimately involved in the
creation of a person while in the womb. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><sup>13
</sup>For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my
mother's womb. <br />
<sup>14 </sup>I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full
well. <br />
<sup>15 </sup>My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of
the earth, <br />
<sup>16 </sup>your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came
to be. <br />
<b>Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">When
one looks at a DNA helix one can see how the writer with poetic license could
say that we are knit together. And remember this was written 1000s of years
prior to mankind discovering DNA!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">God
knows all and has recorded not only our past but also our present and future in
His book. Prewritten prior to our creation. This would indicate that not only
does God care about people who are persons (according the journal article) but
that he cares about us and knows our potential long before we are “viable
humans!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">So
glad I was not only fearfully but also wonderfully made…exactly the way God
intended!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Pastor Val</span></span><br />Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-70749246729072125742012-03-05T11:52:00.001-05:002012-03-05T11:52:51.920-05:00Getting Even Pt 4 (Giving When the Going Gets Tough)<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">My final post on Getting Even is based on Matthew 5:42</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><sup>42 </sup>Give to the one
who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. <br />
<b>Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV) </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">This admonishment of Jesus seems to be best understood two
ways: first we are commanded to live open-handedly and second we are commanded
to be willing to give or lend to those who persecute us but to treat it as a
gift.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">Yeah I admit I’m not real crazy about that second one either
– but more on that in a bit!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">If Matthew’s fourth example deals with the request of the
beggar, then the called-for openhandedness is in line with the long Jewish
tradition of almsgiving. There is no precise definition for this kind of
behavior that is called for, but, as with the other examples, it involves responding
appropriately to an initiative taken by another. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">Here there is a request apparently from a person of poor
means or the second tier from the bottom when a loan is requested. In this
instance it is no longer a matter of response to mistreatment, or even to
forced conduct, but a straightforward request for help. This teaching seems to
relate to the Pentateuch’s teaching on generous living.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><sup>7
</sup>If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of
the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or
tightfisted toward your poor brother. <br />
<sup>8 </sup>Rather be openhanded and freely
lend him whatever he needs. <br />
<b>Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (NIV) </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">Jesus calls his followers to give to those who ask and not
turn away from those who would borrow. He presumes that the needs are genuine
and commands us not to ignore them, but he does not specifically mandate how
best we can help. As Augustine stated in his comments on this passage “<i>give
to everyone that asks</i>,” <b>and not</b> “<i>give everything to him that asks.</i>”
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">Now if you are like me you are
wondering, “Does this mean we are to give to every freeloader and panhandler
who comes our way?” I do not think so. If we practiced this we would not be
good stewards of God’s funds. People could abuse our generosity and we could
even end up bankrupt. Jesus is not recommending that his followers give to
every open hand, though, of course, he calls us all to deep generosity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">What then does he mean? This is where we seem to come to the
second meaning I suggested at the beginning of this blog. Jesus means that the
righteous are to give to those who are attempting to hurt them through
borrowing. Luke refers to this kind of persecution when he says, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><sup>35 </sup>But love your enemies, do good to them, and
lend to them without expecting to get anything back</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>Luke 6:35</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">To understand this second possible meaning I think that
Jesus’ advise is for a specific situation in which the persecutor is demanding
a loan with no intention to repay. Jesus never says how many times one is to
loan to his persecutors. Nor does he mention the restraint that love will
impose on one’s generosity. As Alexander Maclaren (a British pastor of renown
in the 19<sup>th</sup> and early 20<sup>th</sup> century) wisely said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">If turning the cheek would
make the assaulter more angry, or if yielding the cloak would make the legal
robber more greedy, or going the second mile would but make the press gang more
severe and exacting, resistance becomes a form of love and duty for the sake of
the wrongdoer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">Jesus’ advice is not a set of mechanical rules, but rather
principles for addressing personal wrongs that come to those who follow him. In
the matter of loaning, the Lord wants his followers to reject being
tightfisted, and penny-pinching. Instead of saying, “This is mine and I’ll
never share it!” why not say, “Lord how should I respond to this request, this
need?” Will honoring this request bring you glory or advance your Kingdom?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">I have to say that some of Jesus’ teachings are hard to live
out. I always find it interesting that many Bible literalists struggle with
teaching and living out Jesus clear literal teachings. It is something that I
struggle with as well. And yet if we are going to be fully devoted followers of
Jesus – we must live out our lives in obedience to His commands and not our
predisposed interpretations of His teachings.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;">Still trying to pry my hand open</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Pastor Val</span></span>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-29148405475453973652012-02-20T14:53:00.001-05:002012-02-20T14:55:24.600-05:00Getting Even Pt 3 (Going the Extra Mile)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk08dYLaM3xwk_t5bgqfB3AuMEcoueK6CQ_UZ3Yqfwa9sfeYN3zADh40Vr02dTZOVBF7i9Wu4nBztoyjuN-D4-Dc05TnA1GO18vcZb1-_uGGg7oHZ9yqQyBcwrKmyOCeCmsgP9Dk3Ng8o/s1600/extra_mile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk08dYLaM3xwk_t5bgqfB3AuMEcoueK6CQ_UZ3Yqfwa9sfeYN3zADh40Vr02dTZOVBF7i9Wu4nBztoyjuN-D4-Dc05TnA1GO18vcZb1-_uGGg7oHZ9yqQyBcwrKmyOCeCmsgP9Dk3Ng8o/s200/extra_mile.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><sup>41 </sup>If someone forces
you to go one mile, go with him two miles. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Matthew 5:41 (NIV) </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">The issue addressed here is one of compelled service. For
more than 600 years dating back to the Persians the idea of compulsory service
has been reality of life for many people throughout the Middle east of the
time. We have no specific knowledge of
the forms in which this was practiced in Roman Palestine, but since Persian
times impressing people and animals without notice for temporary service to the
authorities had been customary and legal; the practice has been well
documented. The Persians were the first to create a kind of Pony Express in
which the mail-carrying rider simply “borrowed” horses along the way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">The hostility that the 1<sup>st</sup>
Century Jews had for their Roman masters made this even more distasteful.
Whenever a Roman official or soldier could ask (compel) anyone within the
Empire to carry a burden a mile, that person had to do it regardless of who he
was or what the circumstances were. Almost all Jews had been subject to this,
and they hated the very mention of it. It is suggested that this compulsory
service was the reason behind Simon of Cyrene being forced to carry Jesus cross
to Golgotha. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">This recommendation to generously
and ungrudgingly comply with this law would have the power to turn an exaction
into genuine public service, that was generously given to a representative of
the government who has ‘need’ of it. Compulsory and often unpaid or poorly paid
public service has not been uncommon in America. Think the draft that has
plagued us as far back as the mid 1800’s. The Israelis require a couple of
years of compulsory armed service and the Swiss do something similar. With tax
season quickly coming upon us a case could be made for taxes being a form of
compulsory service.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Does this mean that Jesus is endorsing the practice of
impressments? No. In a situation in which changing the rules is not a
possibility, the proposed response will have the capacity of turning the nature
of the transaction from one in which both parties felt worse about each other
after the encounter to one in which positive human interaction might become
possible.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">So how should we react when forced to serve our country?
Well if we can’t affect a change via the polling booth we need to comply with
good grace. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">It has been suggested that this choice to rejoice even in
the midst of discomfort, displeasure and duress was effective in the Gospel
sweeping across the Roman Empire and ultimately bringing about the
Christianizing of the Empire. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Learning to go the extra mile and liking it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Pastor Val</span></span>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-31741097409048533692012-02-07T16:06:00.000-05:002012-02-07T16:06:38.093-05:00Getting Even Pt 2 (Coals of Fire)<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;">In my last blog I discussed living like Jesus who resisted
the temptation to retaliate against his enemies. We specifically looked at His
teaching from Matthew 5:38-ff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">In this blog I want to continue looking at this passage
from Jesus most famous of sermons the “Sermon on the Mount.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup>40 </sup>And if someone wants to sue you and take your
tunic, let him have your cloak as well. <br />
<b>Matthew 5:40 (NIV) <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="color: #e06666;"> In this teaching it is easy to conclude several things. One
there is a case against the defendant. Two, since the suit is seeking the
person’s tunic we can assume the defendant presumably poor. Obviously if the
defendant had more possessions the plaintiff would ask for something more
substantial. Three notice that the suit does not ask for the defendant’s cloak.
This is his outer garment. You see the plaintiff is literally seeking the
“shirt off the back” of the defendant.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">At first glance this looks a bit odd to a twenty-first
century person living in the west. It isn’t until we understand that a person’s
cloak was the most important piece of clothing a person owned. It doubled as a
coat or a means to carry grain or heavy objects by day and a blanket or even
pillow by night. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">One has to admit that the taking of the very clothes of of a
debtor’s back is rather callous at the least and perhaps against the law.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup>25 </sup>"If you lend
money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender;
charge him no interest. <br />
<sup>26 </sup>If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it to him
by sunset, <br />
<sup>27 </sup>because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What
else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am
compassionate. <br />
<b>Exodus 22:25-27 (NIV) </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">While this seems so unfair and unreasonable to us, we only
have to look at some of the laws and judgments handed down in this country to
see how possible this scenario is. The stripping naked of this poor person
graphically reveals the destruction of human dignity, in which the plaintiff is
engaged in. Notice that Jesus taught that the plaintiff’s demands are not to be
resisted, instead He teaches us to exceed their unjust demands. In the process
the plaintiffs are unmasked for what they are. The end result is to heap coals
of fire on their head.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><sup>20 </sup>On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." <br />
<b>Romans 12:20 (NIV) </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">Still learning to give it all away</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #e06666;">Pastor Val</span></span>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-90743595099438291692012-02-03T16:25:00.001-05:002012-02-07T16:07:05.328-05:00Getting Even!<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Have you ever been cut off by someone on the road and you
want a little payback so you ride their bumper or race to get in front of them
so you can return the favor?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Your friend stabs you in the back and you wait in the tall
grass until you can repay the favor. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Or your coworker or boss has you spend a ton of extra time
on your own (weekends and evenings) doing a project only to have them take all
of the credit, glory and more than a few attaboys form those higher up!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Life seems to be full of events that just beg for payback!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Have you ever considered God’s position on paybacks?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">In the Old Testament the concept of “an eye for a eye” seems
harsh in today’s culture but actually it was designed to stop the escalating of
retaliations like a head for a eye. Reflecting over some of the famous feuds in
fiction as the Montagues and Capulets of Shakespeare’s tragedy <i>Romeo and
Juliet</i> or history like the Hatfields and the McCoys of the southern hills
of the United States points to how long lasting feuds and their consequences
can be.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Hammurabi was one of the first rulers to codify the limiting
of retribution as well as some 281 other laws. Some have suggested that the Old
Testament writers used this code to help them codify the laws of the Old
Testament while others claim that the oral traditions of the Jewish law existed
prior to Hammurabi. Regardless of which side you fancy the truth still remains
that the law existed to limit the scope of reprisals. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">So when the Law teaches us an eye for an eye it is talking
about proportionate reprisals. Unfortunately today we still tend to often go
for the nuclear response for a minor infraction. We have morphed the
proportionate reprisals into a principle of aggressive protection of one’s own
interests!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">So Jesus comes along and says: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"> <sup>38 </sup>"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and
tooth for tooth.' <br />
<sup>39 </sup>But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes
you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. <br />
<sup>40 </sup>And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have
your cloak as well. <br />
<sup>41 </sup>If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. <br />
<sup>42 </sup>Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one
who wants to borrow from you. <br />
<b>Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV) </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">The words “I tell you…” creates a whole new way of looking
at getting even. He starts with our being struck on the right cheek that is
most likely is caused by a right-handed person backhanding. This is not about a
beat down but rather a personal insult! How do you and I respond being
insulted? Usually we retaliate but Jesus suggests that we continue to be
vulnerable and allow God to stand up for us. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>19 </sup>Do not take
revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:
"It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. <br />
<b>Romans 12:19 (NIV) </b><br />
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Jesus himself modeled this for us while he was here</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><sup>23 </sup>When they
hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no
threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. <br />
<b>1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) </b><br />
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</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">So we are encouraged to imitate Christ and not to seek
retribution.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">A pretty BIG challenge - especially for me! How about you??</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">I hope to continue this theme in the next blog or two</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Learning to understand suffering</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Pastor Val</span></div>
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<br /></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-5406128181536503652012-01-14T16:27:00.000-05:002012-01-15T16:04:46.776-05:00Confession<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgMe8d3S-I4lpFbI4VN6qJ82ZnWw6BfbbXiQj6Pm8SwzBkQfPTyarIHylYt1a_rGaZZMhWBEmizyjL40x09P04V4tXv_pOe4uRlG3DXz61Wal9QVVfHfsMdYcytzCOxu8zBma8Z3jeMQ/s1600/PRAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgMe8d3S-I4lpFbI4VN6qJ82ZnWw6BfbbXiQj6Pm8SwzBkQfPTyarIHylYt1a_rGaZZMhWBEmizyjL40x09P04V4tXv_pOe4uRlG3DXz61Wal9QVVfHfsMdYcytzCOxu8zBma8Z3jeMQ/s320/PRAY.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">I admit that I am fascinated by church ads for pastors. Often I read them and end up amazed at the variety of different doctrinal belief systems fond in different denominations or even individual churches. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">One church was adamant that to be saved a person DID NOT have to confess totally ignoring just a few verses like Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8; Acts 19:18; Romans 10:9; Romans 14:11; Phil 2:11; 2 Tim 2:19; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 4:15.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">I admit that I have a hard time with this church and their misunderstanding and misapplication of Scripture to come to this conclusion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Recently I was teaching a men’s Bible study and the subject of confessing sins after we are saved. I used 1 John 1:9 to explain how even after we have made a profession of faith and become a follower of Christ that from time to time after sinning we needed to reconnect with God the Father. That seemed to satisfy the guys at the study at least for the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">After our Christmas break the question came back up because one of the men had been poling a number of pastors. At least one was of the opinion that since Christ died for all of our sins past, present and future that we never had to confess again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">I was asked about it again and I gave a good answer at the time but I thought I would flesh out my answer in this blog. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">I guess we need to start with: “What does the word “confess” mean in the original language?” It simply means to “say the same thing.” In other words we agree with God’s assessment that our actions and attitudes were wrong and we are agreeing with His assessment of our situation. This means we admit that we were in rebellion with God and His commands and we need to not only admit our wrong doing but we also must change our direction (this is the meaning of repentance).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">The book First John was written to believers who were already followers of Christ. It to these believers that John says: </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #e69138;">1 John 1:8-9 (NIV) </span></i></b><i><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e69138;">8</span> </span></sup>If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. <br /><sup><span style="color: #e69138;">9 </span></sup>If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Now could this be referring to our original confession? I don’t think so because the author goes on to say</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #e69138;">1 John 2:1-2 (NIV) </span></i></b><i><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e69138;">1</span> </span></sup>My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. <br /><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e69138;">2</span> </span></sup>He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="color: #e69138;">The fact that this is written in the present tense to believers means that believers do sin after they have come to know Christ. Our conclusion to these passages has to mean that 1 John 1:9 is referring to the present. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="color: #e69138;">Additionally, James 5:13-16 tells us to confess our sins to the other believers as a way of holding each other accountable. First Corinthians chapter eleven tells us to examine ourselves so that we can correct our lives so that we will not be judged or undergo correction from the Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Jesus also speaks to the need to our responsibility asking for forgiveness as we forgive others. (See the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13) We are taught that our relationship with God and His forgiveness of our sins is predicated upon our forgiveness of others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e69138;">14</span> </span></sup>For if you forgive men when</span> they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. </span><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e69138;">15</span> </span></sup>But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.</span></i></div>
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In the Gospel of John after the Last Supper Jesus take a basin and a towel and washes the disciples feet. When He comes to Peter after explaining why He is doing this Peter asks for Jesus to give him a complete sponge bath. Jesus tells him</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #e69138;">John 13:10a (NIV) </span></i></b><i><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"><sup><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #e69138;">10</span> </span></sup>Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean." </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">In the 1<sup>st</sup> century because people walked over dusty trails and streets a person needed to wash their feet upon entering a home. Think of the way many people want you to rinse your feet off prior to getting into their pool to keep extra dirt out of the pool. The implication of this teaching is that while we are cleansed from the sin of the world occasionally we need to rinse off our feet from the pollution of the world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Trying to keeping my feet clean,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Pastor Val</span></div>
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<br /></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-41010092694364925792011-12-13T11:27:00.000-05:002011-12-13T11:28:55.290-05:00How Shall a King Come?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">We are in the time of Advent in the church calendar. Advent
is when we look expectantly to the coming of the Lord. Since his first coming
believers have been expecting his return. During this season we long to
experience Christ in a new way in our lives. One of the ways we can experience
Christ’s presence is by helping and caring for the vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus says I was in need and you took
care of me and the people said when have we seen you in need and he says when you
have helped just <b>one</b> of these you have helped me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>45
</sup>"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not
do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' <br />
<b>Matthew 25:45 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> Who are the “these”
in Matthew 25:31-46? Who are the hungry and the thirsty (think homeless and
kids), the stranger (think immigrant or alien) and those without clothes (think
homeless) the sick (think shut-ins, hospital patients, or nursing homes), or
prisoners? These are the vulnerable the ones we are called to care for. In the
Old Testament they were referred to as immigrants, poor, widows and orphans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>9
</sup>"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true
justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. <br />
<sup>10 </sup>Do not oppress the widow or the
fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each
other.' <br />
<b>Zechariah 7:9-10 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">This Zechariah is one of many passages (Psalm 146:7-9,
Deuteronomy 10:17-19; 27:19, Proverbs 31:8, Jeremiah 22:3; 22:16) that give us
specific instructions of how to show our love for others. These instructions
include care for the needy, the poor, immigrants, orphans and the widows.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">To be more specific Micah
speaks to this</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>8
</sup>He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD
require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your
God. <br />
<b>Micah 6:8 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The Hebrew word we translate mercy is <i>hesedh</i> and
means God’s unconditional grace and compassion. (BTW grace means God giving to
us that which we don’t deserve as compared to mercy, which is when God
withholds from us what we do deserve.) The Hebrew word for justly or justice is
<i>mishpat</i> and means to treat people equitably. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I guess you could think of it this way <i>mishpat</i> is the
attitude behind the action. It means more than punishing wrongdoers it means
giving people their rights. It really is worship in it’s second emphasis
(loving others as much as you love yourself). Scripture deals with four
categories of vulnerable or needy people: poor, immigrants, widows and orphans.
Today I would includes the elderly in this mix. Since women tend to outlive men
this would include widows and so many of today’s elderly would be considered
poor, hence my inclusion of them in this list.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>9
</sup>"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice;
show mercy and compassion to one another. <br />
<sup>10 </sup>Do not oppress the widow or the
fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each
other.' <br />
<b>Zechariah 7:9-10 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Tim Keller in his book <u>Generous Justice</u> speaks of two
forms of justice found in the Old Testament. The first is <i>mishpat</i> or
“rectifying justice.” The second is <i>tzadeqah</i>, which refers to our
day-to-day relationships with all that we come in contact with in family and
society as a whole. This form of justice is referred to as “primary justice.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">It would seem that if each of us practiced tzadeqah or
primary justice there would be no need for rectifying justice.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>12
</sup>because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless
who had none to assist him. <br />
<sup>13 </sup>The man who was dying blessed
me; I made the widow's heart sing. <br />
<sup>14 </sup>I put on righteousness (<i>tzadeqah</i>)
as my clothing; justice (<i>mishpat</i>) was my robe and my turban. <br />
<sup>15 </sup>I was eyes to the blind and feet
to the lame. <br />
<sup>16 </sup>I was a father to the needy; I
took up the case of the stranger. <br />
<sup>17 </sup>I broke the fangs of the wicked
and snatched the victims from their teeth. <br />
<b>Job 29:12-17 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">See also <b>Job 31:13-28</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">In scripture, gifts to the poor are called “acts of
righteousness” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>1
</sup>"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before
men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in
heaven. <br />
<sup>2 </sup>"So when you give to the
needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have
received their reward in full. <br />
<b>Matthew 6:1-2 (NIV) <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">So I guess we could postulate
that not being a generous giver would not be miserly or stingy but rather
unrighteous and as such sin!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Reading <b>Ezekiel 18:5, 7-8a</b> seems to teach the same
thing. By not living openhandedly with the material possessions that have been
entrusted into our care we are living unjustly and in reality robbers of God’s
possessions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><sup>18
</sup>He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves
the alien, giving him food and clothing. <br />
<sup>19 </sup>And you are to love those who
are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. <br />
<b>Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NIV) </b><br />
<br />
<sup>6 </sup>"Is not this the kind of
fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of
the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? <br />
<sup>7 </sup>Is it not to share your food with
the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the
naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? <br />
<b>Isaiah 58:6-7 (NIV) </b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The Isaiah passage is one of my favorite in understanding
that fasting which is considered one of the ways that we worship God includes
more than simply depriving ourselves of sustenance. It means action!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">So during this season of Advent when we are longing for
Christ to visit us let’s not forget that perhaps Christ is already visiting us
in the form of those in need. How are we doing with caring for Him?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Excuse me while I go serve some of my fellow men in need.
Who knows maybe if I look real close I’ll see the face of Christ shining
through them</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Have a great Advent season</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Pastor Val</span></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-49343252109195661342011-11-21T16:26:00.001-05:002011-11-21T21:02:06.763-05:00Loyal Opposition<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTMWV4-7aRAc0vRFvsKIHp2zSbHa9LJjhEoPcjfltWfoA1q0fMVT2aS9x_8ZtyVzx2o-0eUzwofZYr-r4j85eaJ9rN39kFRnhucix9BbFzbV6PYt3yMx2wKsWEanbeYASMhGTra2A9jc/s1600/atheist-Gods-loyal-opposition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTMWV4-7aRAc0vRFvsKIHp2zSbHa9LJjhEoPcjfltWfoA1q0fMVT2aS9x_8ZtyVzx2o-0eUzwofZYr-r4j85eaJ9rN39kFRnhucix9BbFzbV6PYt3yMx2wKsWEanbeYASMhGTra2A9jc/s1600/atheist-Gods-loyal-opposition.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Yesterday I learned that a person who had caused me no small amount of grief at a previous ministry was experiencing the same grief from some of his former cronies. My initial reaction was vindication and a certain amount of glee to see someone get what they so richly deserved… yeah I know I’m human!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">My second thought was “Wait this person is a believer and I shouldn’t be rejoicing over his suffering I should be praying for him.” </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">For most of our country’s history, members of the opposing party in congress were referred to as members of the loyal opposition. When new congressional members came into office and referred to the opposition as the enemy they were gently corrected by elder congressmen that the members of other party were the opposition not the enemy. Just because someone didn’t agree with you didn’t mean that they were not trying to do the right thing or make him or her an enemy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">That trend seems to have changed in recent years. Congressmen from all parties routinely cast the opposition as villains out to destroy democracy, kill babies or older people, or in the very least the USA. Unfortunately this tendency has leached over into the church, where political agendas have often taken over the driver seat. And we no longer give the opposition the benefit of the doubt about their agenda. They are the enemy!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">We have come to believe that if they aren’t with us then they are the enemy and must be destroyed (or at the very least driven out of the church). Now let me be the first to say that the Bible seems to indicate that in addition to those who follow Christ and those who don’t, there is another way of classifying people. Scripture teaches us that there wise, foolish, and evil (or wicked) people. These three classifications are clearly seen in numerous passages found in the book of Proverbs. Here are just a few:</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Wisdom comes from God A wise man is a righteous man.</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>5 </sup>let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-- </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 1:7 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>7 </sup>The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 2:6 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>6 </sup>For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 4:6 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>6 </sup>Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 9:9 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>9 </sup>Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.</span></div>
<h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">Foolish people won’t listen to reason</span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 1:22 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>22 </sup>"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 10:8 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>8 </sup>The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 12:15 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>15 </sup>The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 14:9 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>9 </sup>Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 14:16 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>16 </sup>A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 23:9 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>9 </sup>Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"></span></div>
<h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: small;">Evil is the absence of righteousness and bent on doing harm</span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 2:14 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>14 </sup>who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 4:16 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>16 </sup>For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 6:14 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>14 </sup>who plots evil with deceit in his heart-- he always stirs up dissension.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 10:29 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>29 </sup>The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;"><b>Proverbs 16:6 (NIV) </b><br /><sup>6 </sup>Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">So when a man sees the error of his way and goes about making amends that man is wise. When his former friends attack him for doing the right thing they have to fall into one of the remaining two categories. I’ll let God decide which category they belong in. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">As for those who try to follow Christ and his way God says to rejoice when we suffer for doing right! (Matthew 5:10; 1 Peter 2:10 & 3:17) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">In the mean time, I’m praying for this man and rejoicing that he is a wise person! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Still learning wisdom</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">Pastor Val</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">My thanks to Media Dagger for their brilliant cartoon!</span></div>
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<a href="http://mediadagger.com/?attachment_id=1452"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">http://mediadagger.com/?attachment_id=1452</span></a> </div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-58422562527005526642011-10-12T23:46:00.001-04:002011-11-21T21:03:06.876-05:00Serving an Awesome God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbTlF7e8pUKvkMWl8QOz3rP9vHSVxDumXhK2dqnNMnUU4v6cM0ngAdPZrvUXcB0oO0ALoRLurNpAZ63Gr5VS-J3Z-0TshrrNr-HmyJ-59rLPoY4Fx45xi5uGJBcbTLCEv7cGf81e3xpE/s1600/DSC01863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbTlF7e8pUKvkMWl8QOz3rP9vHSVxDumXhK2dqnNMnUU4v6cM0ngAdPZrvUXcB0oO0ALoRLurNpAZ63Gr5VS-J3Z-0TshrrNr-HmyJ-59rLPoY4Fx45xi5uGJBcbTLCEv7cGf81e3xpE/s320/DSC01863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAAzIQ6lyU-r1XzGpsdyW57WWRJzi3ZWokPa08494LBldvow12wmViBG54mXyuMaLxl9C7aLmG4PaRgOL_LGNTTGW_JhAUFS7J4QjJEZMEiCm9iq82a7ECR8x0zPLcTAIx2FMrVLJJrs/s1600/DSC01865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAAzIQ6lyU-r1XzGpsdyW57WWRJzi3ZWokPa08494LBldvow12wmViBG54mXyuMaLxl9C7aLmG4PaRgOL_LGNTTGW_JhAUFS7J4QjJEZMEiCm9iq82a7ECR8x0zPLcTAIx2FMrVLJJrs/s320/DSC01865.JPG" width="320" /></a>This is my second trip to India and hopefully it won't be my last!<br />
<br />
There is much that those of us in the USA can learn from this land. People value things differently here. The materialism that we battle in America is not an issue in a land of poverty. I was watching an Indian political talk show in the airport last Saturday and they were discussing the economic plight of this country. One of the hosts stated that out of the 88 poorest countries of the world India ranked 67th. Only 11 other countries were in worse economic shape than India and this is a country that competes with China of having the largest population in the world.<br />
<br />
Like last time being here helps me realize what is and is not important.<br />
<br />
I had the privilege to teach the MTS classes this past week. We studied Nehemiah and how he applied Biblical leadership to the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, helped bring about spiritual renewal for his country and dealt with economic inequity all wile facing down major political opposition both from within and from without. <br />
<br />
It was so exciting to watch their faces as we took the lessons of Nehemiah and applied them to their current spiritual, political, and economic situation. As the light came on in their eyes they seemed to begin to understand how they could address issues both in and out of their pulpit.<br />
<br />
We had had about 30 students (20 men and 10 women who were studying the Bible together. An additional unexpected experience were more then 10 pastors who attended these sessions. Some had traveled over 150 k to attend. The icing on the cake was the fact that two of these pastors had been students of mine last year. It was exciting to see how God had been blessing their ministry!<br />
<br />
We finished the study of Nehemiah and they asked me to continue to teach. I had been asking God what I should do if I finished early and he had laid on my heart to teach Galatians. <br />
<br />
It had been over a year since I had taught this great book but at the prompting of the Lord I launched into the study. <br />
<br />
I'm always amazed at how God orchestrates things like this. I was teaching on some of the different Gospels that the Galatians were chasing after. I mentioned the concept of "Dualism" and how it emphasized spiritual things and downplayed the physical. This launched us into a hot topic that the local pastors were currently dealing with. It seems that a local pastor had taken a second wife, now having two wives at the same time. When this pastor was challenged he told his critics that he preaching a spiritual Gospel and didn't have to worry about the physical since it wasn't important.<br />
<br />
We were able to discuss this and look at the Scriptures and determine what God had to say about this very relevant subject.<br />
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I know I shouldn't be taken by surprise when decided to show up like this and orchestrate events and people so that there are these God Moments, but I still am excited to witness them much less be allowed to participate in them.<br />
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Who is like our God?<br />
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Serving an awesome God! <br />
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Pastor Val </div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-80746177519148598852011-09-30T19:38:00.001-04:002011-09-30T19:38:48.097-04:00When God leads, God Provides!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">I am always amazed at how God takes care of his children, who live by faith. I really shouldn’t be surprised but almost every time it happens I am.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">This week I am returning to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region> to train pastors. The trip expenses are a bit much for me in my current financial condition. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">When God laid it upon my heart to help train pastors half way around the world I knew I would need help from Christian friends and family to raise the funds necessary. It was a learning experience to realize that I needed community to accomplish the task that God was asking me to do. And I think that it was a learning experience for the community to pray the dangerous prayer, “Lord, what would you have me do?” and then obey whatever he tells you to do, even if the answer was not to help financially but to simply pray for the ministry.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Last year God brought in 30% more then I needed to fund the trip. And God was obeyed and honored by all who participated in the experience. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">It has been my experience that when we first exercise our faith muscle God often builds our confidence by answering quickly and abundantly. But muscle is built by stretching it and then relaxing it. Now God always knows just how much to stretch our faith without giving us a faith Charlie-horse. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">The first trip stretched me and this year again I felt God’s leading to return to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">India</place></country-region>. So I asked my extended community to again pray the dangerous prayer and obey God’s leading. Last year the funds came in rather quickly but this year the funds come in much more slowly. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">With less then two weeks before the trip I was still short 20% of the amount I needed to cover the trip’s expenses. I was beginning to look at how I was going to cover the shortfall. I knew that God wanted me to go and I knew that God would provide but I didn’t know how it was going to happen or when.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxhMh9bTBbCos8OtpkREOf_fbBlLJbWD61wVviGr-kU2OKw0GI7rfPqHDqf4dJop11_-xiUxsIQxXSvwbbAknUPNHdDAQ_E1szMTsPHsPwXU5FO3IKNK9dWPv70GSLBQNRxpTje32EEk/s1600/Godwillmakeaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxhMh9bTBbCos8OtpkREOf_fbBlLJbWD61wVviGr-kU2OKw0GI7rfPqHDqf4dJop11_-xiUxsIQxXSvwbbAknUPNHdDAQ_E1szMTsPHsPwXU5FO3IKNK9dWPv70GSLBQNRxpTje32EEk/s1600/Godwillmakeaway.png" /></span></a><span style="color: #c27ba0;">One thing I’ve learned over the years is that “When God leads, God provides!” A couple of nights ago I got a text from a friend who told me that he wanted to support my mission but had been late getting the funds off to the mission organization. And since he was late in getting the funds sent <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he wanted me to know how much he was sending so I could plan accordingly. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Well the amount he felt God lay on his heart to supply was the 20% shortfall I needed! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">PTL</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">At this rate, God will wait until the day I go to fully fund my next trip!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Once again I’m reminded that “When God leads, God provides!” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Getting ready to pack</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;">Pastor Val</span></div>
Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-89749852512706929992011-09-06T11:31:00.000-04:002011-09-06T14:04:53.556-04:00Biting My Tongue<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">A couple of weeks ago I had a profound occurrence. It was
one of those experiences that rocks your world! This revelation came from the
Holy Spirit through a conversation with my wife. Yep! My wife often has
profound comments but this one really set me back on my heels.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I have to share a bit of the background for you to
appreciate my experience. I had just come back from a Bible study that I have
been participating in. This study meets very early (which is not a good thing
from my point of view) and it is open to anyone who would like to join us. Now
this is a great thing having many different traditions attending because it
leads to some lively discussions. It also leads quite often to my biting my
tongue when some people share things that are theologically questionable (at
least from my perspective).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I had come home from the study and was fussing about some
doctrinal issues and comments that had been said during our meeting. I had
chosen to not immediately comment on some things that I knew were questionable
at best. I wanted the people to feel open to express themselves and then I
tried to navigate the rapids that had been created by their comments. While my
desire was to come down hard on some comments I realized that the people who were
sharing these comments were seeking answers and were vocalizing their thoughts
and were expressing where they were in their spiritual journey. My desire was
to knock some heads together and “straighten out their thinking” but my job was
to gently help guide them through their journey not to correct each and every
statement they made (2 Timothy 2:25). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I was home expressing my frustration to my wife on some of
the people’s lack of progress in their spiritual journey. She looked at me and
said, “If you are frustrated with them just think how frustrated God is with us
with our lack progress!” </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I have to tell you she took the wind right out of my sails!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I stood there and tried to imagine the frustration that I
must cause God with my own lack of progress at times. Even in spite of my best
efforts I seem to constantly fall short of where I want to be on my journey.
And yet God is patiently encouraging me as I stumble on my way often making
ridiculous statements that must cause him to wince. I look back at some of my
past thoughts and comments and wonder how many times He’s had to bite his
tongue at some of my outrageous comments. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">His patience is beyond my imagination and certainly beyond
my ability but it is a goal for each of us as we nurture fellow believers. We
must gently speak the truth in love and encourage them when their progress
slower then we would like. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">I’m thankful for God’s patience with us</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Treating my bruised & bloody tongue </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">Pastor Val</span></div>
Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-68886961568909245352011-08-24T15:17:00.000-04:002011-08-24T15:17:31.397-04:00Keys to the Kingdom<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalUHGBMag1oNjBHLz_sWOg-7pmcM5t5zUYGB3dTP-Uznp41cDSPXalPwhPvkSfp7-h3oBFlYg2rxGwQHNIqztg60UlBXUt5yg9KIFLypUMaRlXNajcNEpO5sL3RslWzzRD7MAjCyqwEs/s1600/keys+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalUHGBMag1oNjBHLz_sWOg-7pmcM5t5zUYGB3dTP-Uznp41cDSPXalPwhPvkSfp7-h3oBFlYg2rxGwQHNIqztg60UlBXUt5yg9KIFLypUMaRlXNajcNEpO5sL3RslWzzRD7MAjCyqwEs/s200/keys+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">When I was younger I saw everything as pure black and white with very little gray. As I’ve matured in my spiritual walk I have come to realize that yes there are doctrinal issues that we must take a firm and unshakable stand on, but there are other things that are more culturally driven or even spiritually unclear questions. These questions are what I want to address in this paper: things like contemporary or traditional music, liturgical or non-liturgical style services, the proper role of women in the church, gifts of the spirit and many more that I could mentioned. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">How do we address these issues? How do we resolve them to the general satisfaction of the individual independent local church or denominational group? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">I believe that before the Lord’s death he gave us the tools to deal with these issues. Further I believe that the book of Acts gives us a prime example of how to deal with these divisive issues. I call it the Keys of the Kingdom. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">In Matthew 16 Simon Peter has declared that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. The passage continues with Jesus blessing Peter and made reference to Peter being “a stone” but the truth that Peter has proclaimed is “a boulder” upon which Jesus will build his church. Then I believe Jesus said one of the most puzzling yet profound things he ever said to the twelve (and not just to Peter): </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><sup>19 </sup>I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." <br />
<b>Matthew 16:19 (NIV) </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">To understand this verse we must remember a number of things. Matthew who records this saying is writing to Jewish believers. As such he is showing that Jesus is not only the greatest Rabbi to ever have lived but also Jesus is the promised Messiah and the very Son of God. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><span> </span>Rabbis had a way of teaching and they often spoke in “Rabbiese” much like many Christians today speak “Christianese” If you lived in the culture of the time you will understand what Jesus is saying. But being almost 2000 years removed and living in a western culture vs. a Hebraic eastern culture we miss the significance of the message.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">When a student (disciple) was ready to graduate from his training under his teacher (rabbi or master) he would be granted permission to carry on his teacher’s work. If he encountered a situation that the teacher had not specifically covered he was given permission to make decisions based upon his understanding of training for the teacher and his followers. He was given the “keys to the kingdom.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Now this played out in the early church with what is known as the first Jerusalem council in the 15<sup>th</sup> chapter of the book of Acts (the history book of the early church). Paul and his fellow missionaries had shared the good news with Jews and gentiles alike. This influx of gentile believers of Jesus Christ into the church had caused concern for the more traditional Jewish believers. Did these non-Jewish believers need to convert to Judaism (with all of it’s rituals and rules) or not. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Both sides presented their concerns and positions to the leadership of the church that included not only the apostles that were in Jerusalem but also the church leaders (specifically James) of the mother church. Following the discussion and after seeking God’s direction through prayer James made his judgment. Gentile did not have to become Jews to be considered full followers of Christ. The leadership of the church had practiced Matthew 16:19 and the Lord blessed their decision with a great influx of gentile believers in the years to come. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">So how does all of this apply to some of the more the cultural questions you have asked me to address? My answer is that some answers need to be made based on carefully seeking God’s will for our local church. Not every church will come to the same conclusion and that is fine in not essential doctrines. Each church (and leader for that matter) will stand before God to give an account for what they decided. There will be occasions when these decisions will be right for one group but not another. And that is okay. Paul and Barnabas agreed to disagree regarding taking John Mark on a missionary journey and they separated ways. The net result was that the gospel reached more people because they multiplied their efforts. Neither was right or wrong. Furthermore what might be right at one point in our journey might change with the passing of time. Later in life Paul commented on how helpful John Mark had become to him in the ministry after previously rejecting him for that second mission. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">In conclusion while I have opinions and preferences on cultural issues I am more desirous to partner with the spiritual leadership of the church to seek God’s leading and do His will regarding these and other non-essential issues. Our concern should always be what does the Lord want and not what do we want. After all we have all been taught to say “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Now if I can just find those keys…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Pastor Val</span></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-90567883734754245802011-08-13T20:46:00.001-04:002011-08-13T20:51:06.860-04:00I’m Willing<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r_06MYH27xF0vK0oy3nYZrfyWZWBiy4wTF_-EVIYSYM2Nj_lFYp3LjB_2EpnI4avZKUhaWJJ25M5mImsSR57ONVmcjybmUfqiaMbP2AojgyfPzIp503oYhCO4KJSRk57mIllvxvlNTw/s1600/inca_pottery_shards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r_06MYH27xF0vK0oy3nYZrfyWZWBiy4wTF_-EVIYSYM2Nj_lFYp3LjB_2EpnI4avZKUhaWJJ25M5mImsSR57ONVmcjybmUfqiaMbP2AojgyfPzIp503oYhCO4KJSRk57mIllvxvlNTw/s320/inca_pottery_shards.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">I just came back from attending the 2011 Global Leadership Summit. It was two days of nonstop learning this year. Often there is a session or two that are less than stellar but this year it seemed like I came away with handfuls from every session.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">One specific session dealt with leading under difficult situations. We heard the stories of two modern leaders who lead under remarkably difficult conditions. Their unique stories were more reminiscent to the martyrs of bygone eras not experiences of the 21<sup>st</sup> century. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The final message of this session was taken from Jeremiah, a book out of the Old Testament section of the Bible. It really was an overview of the ministry life of this ancient prophet who was chosen by God to speak to the nation of <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Judah</country-region></place> of coming judgment if they failed to return to God. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">On a scale of one to ten with one being the lowest possible results of a lifetime of ministry Jeremiah’s would have to be pegged at a minus 3 at the best. But through it all and even after a chapter or two of complaints Jeremiah comes to the conclusion that in spite of the difficulties and dangers serving God is better then any alternative. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">During one point in the message a large piece of pottery was shattered on stage to remind us of the brokenness of all of us and yet God can still use us in our brokenness. At the beginning of the day each of us was given a broken piece of pottery. After the session we were asked to consider writing a message on it indicating our willingness to serve regardless of what our called to do and then to date it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">My message read “I’m willing! 8-12-11” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Now I have to say that I have said this to God for the past year to year and a half but God’s answer has been wait…not yet. Apparently I had (more likely still have) lessons to learn before I’m properly prepared for what God has next for me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">BTW waiting is not one of my strong suits but the thing about learning patience is that it takes time. It’s kind of like on the job training!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I have to be honest when I came home I put the piece of pottery on the counter and never bothered to tell my wife or anyone else about it. I had some errands to take care of this morning and didn’t get back home until mid afternoon when I finally checked my email prior to doing some finishing work on my message for tomorrow. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Sitting in my inbox was an email from a church I had sent my resume to eleven months ago. Five months ago I had received a communication from them inquiring if I was still available and interested in this church. A month ago I had sent them an email checking with them to see where they were in their process and had heard from them that I was still being considered.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hunting for a job or ministry lately I have to tell you that you can usually tell by thickness of the letter or whether an email has an attachment if you are still being considered. Thin letters or emails without attachments usually mean that you are no longer being considered for the job/ministry. But thick letters or emails with attachments usually mean that you are still being considered and td you have a questionnaire to fill out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I’m sure that you are wondering about the email I received this afternoon… It contained an attachment and I’ve been asked to fill out a questionnaire. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Now I’m not saying that my wait is over or the church that contacted me is the one that God has for me but it is kind of exciting to realize that God heard my prayer and wanted to encourage me during my patience experience.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Just clay in the Potter’s hand</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Pastor Val</span></div><span style="color: #e69138;"></span><br />
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</div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-55682404331333035572011-07-15T14:48:00.000-04:002011-07-15T14:48:46.958-04:00Knowing God’s Will ... for Others<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Have you ever had someone other than God play Holy Spirit in your life?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">If you have, you know the sense of frustration in dealing with these “well meaning people.” It has always amazed me how the Lord always seems to tell them what He wants me to do but fails to reveal His will to me. When Paul writes in his letter to Timothy he says<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><sup> “</sup>For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b><span class="apple-converted-space">Too often<b> </b></span>these “well-meaning people” substitute their name in place of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Now I’m not talking about the clear will of God, like God’s desire that no one should perish but all come to the saving knowledge of God. Nor am I referring to things like the 10 commandments. What I am referring to are areas in our lives where we need to determine God’s will for our lives. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about. Suppose you felt God’s call to the mission field, a field where you had originally been born into and spent the first 20 years of your life. After years of preparation and raising support you arrive on the field. You have spent four years of successful ministry there and have seen substantial fruit and now you travel back to the states for a furlough. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">While you are back here in the USA you meet with the missions committee of your sending church and there are new people at the helm of the missions committee (or board). They review what your ministry and decide that they feel the Lord is calling you to another portion of the country where they speak the same language but the dialect and customs are different. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Let’s throw one more wrinkle into the mix. Let’s suppose that you are a native of the province where you have been serving and you understand the people who you are ministering to. The Lord hasn’t bothered to clue you into this change in His will but you are assured by this leader of your home church that this is God’s will for you and unless you change your ministry location they will cease funding you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Or what if you are the pastor of a church and a person of prominence tells you that the direction that you believe God is leading the church is wrong?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Is this any different then the non-follower of Jesus who tells you that the decision or direction you believe God is leading you is wrong? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Do these people speak for God? Why has God chosen to speak to them but He has never bothered to clue you in? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">What would you do? Where would you turn? Who would you believe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">We rely on the one true mediator between God and man – Jesus. We spend time in dialog with Him. Notice I said dialog and not monologue! Way too often we are way to fearful of what man thinks and we’re too willing to obey man rather than God!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Are you willing to follow the revealed will of God for your life? The will that he promises to reveal to you and not another? Even if it means loss of position or funds or even prestige? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Follow God regardless of the outcome (at least form a human perspective). Do it for His glory so that his Kingdom is advanced!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><sup>29 </sup>Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><sup>41 </sup>The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. <br />
<b>Acts 5:29, 41 (NIV) </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">What great example for us! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">May we also be willing to follow God’s leading regardless if man agrees or not!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Pastor Val</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2432983643823503506.post-81106138743853901642011-07-05T16:45:00.003-04:002011-07-05T16:49:37.694-04:00Missions for the 21st Century<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo_M6kKM68aq4mi2XNSwPMxWNTNT4fsWCQXgECDPi5ZPhJt4Eyg1VpBY0oVB60YDwps0QbNNyc3kLU-Ntgkajsr8Vc0s8D9NilGsSkOoL8geEpVBcWc9QzKLgmq8bbsbZnwi9DoOxHiA/s1600/Glocal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 45px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo_M6kKM68aq4mi2XNSwPMxWNTNT4fsWCQXgECDPi5ZPhJt4Eyg1VpBY0oVB60YDwps0QbNNyc3kLU-Ntgkajsr8Vc0s8D9NilGsSkOoL8geEpVBcWc9QzKLgmq8bbsbZnwi9DoOxHiA/s320/Glocal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625972585546959250" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdo_M6kKM68aq4mi2XNSwPMxWNTNT4fsWCQXgECDPi5ZPhJt4Eyg1VpBY0oVB60YDwps0QbNNyc3kLU-Ntgkajsr8Vc0s8D9NilGsSkOoL8geEpVBcWc9QzKLgmq8bbsbZnwi9DoOxHiA/s1600/Glocal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Missions are being done differently in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century! With the glocalization of the world it is becoming easier for the average layperson to become more actively involved in missions. Many evangelical churches are changing their entire strategies to meet this brave new world.</span></span></a> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >What I mean by this is that each church or person can look at the gifts that they have and the talents that they have in the local bodies and seek ways of using these unique skill sets and gifts to meet local needs as well as globally. For example a teacher can help local at risk kids learn and perhaps help develop current teaching techniques for schools overseas. Another example would be for farmers to help farmers in drought stricken areas use better methods of irrigating crops to raise more food. Even a biologist could help engineer seeds that might be more drought resistant. All of these would be ways of seeking to fulfill Jesus charge in Matthew 25:34-40</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Matthew 25:40 (NIV) </b><br /><sup><span>40 </span></sup>"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Of course we must never loose sight of our calling in Matthew 28: 18-20.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) </b><br /><sup><span>18 </span></sup>Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.<br /><sup><span>19 </span></sup>Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,<br /><sup><span>20 </span></sup>and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >We are commanded to make disciples (which is a life-long process, by the way) and to do so in all the world.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >So our goal should be to do this locally, regionally, by country and throughout the entire world. Act 1:8</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >We need to be intentional in our approach to missions. I believe that this starts with prayer on our part and listening to and following God’s voice and leading. It means realizing that in some instances we need to make use of our resources and give them to local people on the ground who can more effectively reach their local communities. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I have been helping a local ministry in India prepare and train pastors to go back to their local communities to plant churches. It support for a local pastor in a village is approximately $1000 a month and in a city the cost rises to approximately $2000-2500. Compare that to an American missionary in India where we would have to support them to the tune of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>$4000-7000 a month. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >In other instances we need to continue to send people to the foreign field some in long term instances and other times in short term capacities. Sometimes as support for local leaders, other times to raise up local leaders to carry on the ministry. For example China is said to have had only a few believers prior to the expulsion of foreign missionaries but a generation later this number had grown to tens of million or even a hundred million believers because of faithful local leadership. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >All of these examples and more have their place in our missions’ philosophy. We need to effectively use God’s resources to extend His Kingdom both here and abroad for the express purpose of bringing Glory to Him!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" >How’s your serve?</span><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" ><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" >Pastor Val</span></div></div>Ancient Future Marinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08098732915884351735noreply@blogger.com0